Improvement in pruning-shears



0.. P.; SMITH & A. W; MILLER. Pruning-Shears.

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UNITED STATES v ORSON r. SMITH, OF BUFORD, AND ANDREW w. MILLER, orMORRISON! PATENT VILLE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRUNlNG-SHEARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,72l, datedSeptember 1, 1874; application filed J une 20, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ORSON P. SMITH, of

Buford, in the county of Macoupin and State sponding parts.

This device is an improvement in that class of pruning implements whichare adapted, by means of interchangeable parts, to be operated by one ortwo handles, according to the particular kind of work to be done.

. The improvement consists in the novel arrangement and combination of ahooked blade sliding on a bar fixed in the end of the pole or stafl', aknife or cutterpivoted to said blade.

a changeable handle-lever, and connectingbar, and an adjustablepivot-screw, all con structed and arranged as hereinafter described.

In the drawing, A represents a hook-shaped cutting-blade, which slidesby its slotted and side projecting end on a main bar, B, of suitablelength, being socketed to a handle, B. To the uppermost end of main barBis pivoted, by a detachable pivot-screnyo, the lever C,

the opposite end of which is again pivoted in adjustable manner to abrace-bar, D, connecting'with an extension-lug, b, near the lower end ofhook-blade A. A cutting-blade or knife, E, is pivoted to an intermediatepoint of lever D and to the hook-blade A at suitable distance from thecutting part of the same. A

spring, d, attached bya set-screw to handle B, serves to .secure thesliding part of the hook-blade, for the purpose of keeping the shears inopened position ready for cutting. Several holes, 0, of main bar B,serve, in connection with a set-screw, e, to adjust the degree ofclosing of the blades, so that any boy may cut hedge-plants withoutdanger of cutting too much.

produces the upward motion of the knifeblade, and the closing of thesame on the hook for cutting ofl the branch or limb. For cut-' tingsmaller sprouts, the set-screw e is inserted into one of the holes 6,with the slotted end of the hook-bladeA above the same, which makes thestrokes only half as long as before, and cuts more rapidly.

The weight of the pivoted parts throws the shears instantly into openposition after cutting, when held in upright position.

For the purpose of operating the shears with both hands, instead of withone, as described, the pivot-screw a at the upper end of the main bar Bis taken off, leverG swung around about an angle of one hundred andeighty degrees, so that its upper bent end becomes free for attaching asecond handle, B, by ferrule and set-screw. The brace bar D swings thenbetween main bar B and the transposed lever G,

while the end of the mainbbar is rigidly fastended to the screw-pivot ato a hole, f, of hook-blade A, belowthe knife-blade, forming thereby onerigid piece with the hook-blade,

which offers sufficient resistance for cutting large and small branchesby carrying the supplementary handle toward the main handle,

admitting thus of a very extensive and conven- 1 ient use of the shears.Having thus described our invention, we

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent Y I The combination,vwith the main bar B, of the hook-blade A sliding thereon, theconnecting brace or bar D, pivoted lever C, and blade E pivoted to partsA and E, and the adj list-able screw a, all asshown and described,whereby said parts may be adjusted or changed in position to operatewith one or two handles,

as set' forth.

ORSON P. SMITH. ANDREW W. MILLER.

Witnesses:

J OHN O. MILLER, ROBERT BACON.

